Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Insight and Imagination

Yesterday was a special reminder of all the fun and exciting
things going on at Medstar. I had the
honor of attending the 6th annual MI2 (MedStar Institute for Innovation) Innovations in …Thinking
Differently Forum. It was an opportunity
to reconnect as well as meet a diverse group of people across the system.

This year’s theme was Insight and Imagination. Although prevalent to us all, insight is
something we generally do not pay attention to or give a high priority in our
daily lives. There were a number of talented
speakers and Dr. Gary Klein gave us a very thought provoking equation.

Traditionally, the
focus of organizations has been reducing errors. And though important, is not the only method
that should be implemented. Because
measuring insight is more difficult organizations have been more hesitant to
pursue that strategy. That hesitation
could impair the organization’s ability to discover their untapped potential. How do we develop this insight? Klein suggested making it a habit or an
active curious state of mind. His
suggestions included: keeping a journal,
using curiosity, encouraging others and lastly, create opportunities from areas
of conflict or confusion.

Another speaker Donna Harris, Co-CEO of 1776 reminded us
that inspiration is not just out there in new entrepreneurs but in each of us
also. She talked about the new era of
public benefit corporations leading the way for making change. Artist Chris Ayers inspired us with his personal
story about beating cancer and how his use of drawing a different animal each
day helped him through his first year of treatment. The outcome was a beautiful book of drawings
that can now inspire others. His passion
was evident and it was hard to tell where work began and the fun ended. He offered valuable suggestions of things to
do when we find ourselves in a rut or experiencing writer’s block. His message was simple: start with a squiggle
and no one knows where it will end.